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Criticism grows over Johnson's use of police for political speech
Source: The Guardian
Criticism grows over Johnson's use of police for political speech
Prime minister accused of abusing impartiality of officers by using them as backdrop
Matthew Weaver, Kate Proctor and Peter Walker
Fri 6 Sep 2019 08.39 BST Last modified on Fri 6 Sep 2019 09.23 BST
Boris Johnson is facing mounting criticism for abusing the impartiality of police officers after he used them as a backdrop for a political speech.
The prime minister’s speech at a police training college in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was meant to highlight the government’s commitment to returning 20,000 officers to the streets. But it will be remembered for his sometimes rambling remarks about Brexit and the prospects of an election, and the moment when an officer behind him had to sit down after feeling faint.
The shadow policing minister, Louise Haigh, has written to the Cabinet Office asking why the police were used for a highly political speech.
She pointed out that, by his own admission, Johnson’s speech was party political.
Haigh wrote: “Not only was the precious time of these officers wasted, either by diverting them from their duties or depriving them of much-needed rest, but through no fault of their own they were put in an intolerable position by the nakedly party political direction the event took.”
-snip-
Prime minister accused of abusing impartiality of officers by using them as backdrop
Matthew Weaver, Kate Proctor and Peter Walker
Fri 6 Sep 2019 08.39 BST Last modified on Fri 6 Sep 2019 09.23 BST
Boris Johnson is facing mounting criticism for abusing the impartiality of police officers after he used them as a backdrop for a political speech.
The prime minister’s speech at a police training college in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was meant to highlight the government’s commitment to returning 20,000 officers to the streets. But it will be remembered for his sometimes rambling remarks about Brexit and the prospects of an election, and the moment when an officer behind him had to sit down after feeling faint.
The shadow policing minister, Louise Haigh, has written to the Cabinet Office asking why the police were used for a highly political speech.
She pointed out that, by his own admission, Johnson’s speech was party political.
Haigh wrote: “Not only was the precious time of these officers wasted, either by diverting them from their duties or depriving them of much-needed rest, but through no fault of their own they were put in an intolerable position by the nakedly party political direction the event took.”
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/06/criticism-grows-boris-johnson-use-police-officers-political-speech
Boris Johnson rambles through attempt to recite police caution